Fiber box



. Nov. 25, 1941. H. M. INMAN 2,264,208

FIBER-BOX Filed Dec. 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet l 5a Hale M. 111111011 Nov.25,1941; H. M. INMAN FIBER-BOX Filed Dec. 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 3mmHale [llama/L Nov. 25, 1941. I. H. M. lNMAN 2,264,208 FIBER-BOX FiledDec@ 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet Z Inmaw H. M. INMAN Nov. 25, 19 41.

FIBER-BOX Filed Dec. 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Hale Luna 1 I PatentedNov. 25, 1 941 'rATss ATNT OFFICE 2,264,208 WEB Box f Hale M. Inman,Aberdeen, s. Dak. Application December 22, 1938, Serial No. 247,263 3Claims. (01-. 229-6) tionship to adjacent boxes during transporta-l-tion to maintain air spaces around the boxfor ventilation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a box having a pluralityof perforated portions in 'the body and lid adapted to be punched out toform air passages, said perforated portions being provided to enable theshipper to vary the number of openings formed in the box depending uponthe temperature. 1 I

Still a further object of the invention, is to provide a box lid adaptedto be folded transversely along its top to provide upwardly extendingribs for spacing the bottom of a superposed box from said lid, and ahandle portion formed integral with the body of said box and adaptedtoproject upwardly therefrom through the'lid for carrying the box andfor eo-acting with said ribs in supporting a superposed box.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter becomemore fully apparent from the following description of the drawings,which illustrate a preferred'embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of theinvention,

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 2--2of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken'on the line.8-3of'Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the lined-f Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken onthelinei-SofFigureL'Figure 6 is a bottom plan of the lid, V

Figure '7 is a side elevational view of one of the transversepartitions, as seen in Figure 4,

view er one corner FigureilisaviewsimilartoFigure1ofa slightly modifiedform of-the invention,

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-!of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a longitudinal vertical sectional Figure 14 is a transversevertical sectional view taken on the line |4'-l4 of Figure 13,

Figure 15 is a fragmentary top plan view of the I box as seen in Figures13 and 14,

Figure 16 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one end of thelongitudinal'partition, as seen in Figure 13, in its blank form, I

Figure 17 is a side elevational view of one of the transverse seen inFigure 13,

Figure 18 is a fragmentary top plan view of another form of lid adaptedtofit another modified form of longitudinal partition,

Figure 19 is a plan view showing one corner of a modified box assembledby tongue and slot connections in the lapped portions thereof,

Figure 20 is a sectional view taken along the line 20-20 of Figure 19, v

Figure 21 is a plan view of the corner, as seen in Figure 19, before theblank is folded,

Figure 22 is an elevational view showing a partition provided with atongue to engage a slot in a side wall of the box, and

Figure 23 is a sectional view taken along the line 23-23 of Figure 22.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like referencecharacters designate like or corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views, the box, designated generally 20, as seen in Figures 1to '7, includes the body portion, designated generally 2| and the lid orcover 21.

Box 20, including the body 2| and lid 21 is formed of a fibrous materialsuch as a heavy cor- ;rugated paper or cardboard. Body 2| includes thetwo corresponding sections 22 which are rectangular in shape and open attheir tops, with each section 22 being formed of a single blankbent toprovide the upwardly extending longitudinal sides 23 and ends 24which'are cut and folded to. form the overlapping portions 25, securedtogether bythe staples 26 to attach the sides 23 and ends 24 adjacentthe corners of the sections.

Sections 22 are arranged side by side with two of the longitudinal sides23 in abutting engage- ,ment and are secured to each other by means ofstaples 28 connecting these sides 23, as'seen in Figure 2. The twoconnected sides 23 of the body 2| combine to forms. longitudinalpartition 28 of double thickness and the body 2| is further divided intofour compartments by the two transverse partitions 29 having the tongues30 projecting from their ends which extend through. openings 3| in thesidesj23 and partition -22.

Partition 28 and partitions 29 combine to divide the body 2| into fourseparate compartments and as seen in Figure 4, ends 24, sides 23'andpartitions28 and 29 are perforated to provide cuteoutportions 32 adaptedto be punched inwardly to form openings'or air passages 23 forventilating the four compartmenta;

partitions of the modified form as Partition 28 is enlarged intermediateof its ends and along its upper edge to provide an upwardly extendingportion 34 having a slot 35 forming a handle by means of which box 29can be carried.

Lid 21 is likewise formed from a single blank which is folded adjacentits edges to provide the top 36, sides 31 and ends 38. Top 36 adjacentits opposite ends is folded to form the upwardly projecting ribs 39 andthe ends 36 are drawn inwardly and secured to the inward y folded ends40 of the sides 31, by the staples 26 to maintain the folds in thetop36. A reinforcing strip 4| may be providedat the comers of the lid 21 toprevent the staples 26 from being torn loose from the ends 38 and thefolded portions 40 when weight is placed upon the ribs 39 as willhereinafter be explained. Top 36 is also provided with the cut-outportions 32 forming the openings 33 to ventilate the four compartmentsfrom above. Top 36 is provided with a longitudinal slot 42 through whichhandle 34 is adapted to extend when the lid 21 is in position, saidhandle effectively maintaining lid 21 on the body portion 2| againstremoval except by being lifted upwardly.

As seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the upper edge of the handle 34 isdisposed in a horizontal plane with the upper edges of the ribs 39 andis adapted to cooperate therewith in supporting the bottom of acorresponding superposed box so that said bottom will be held in spacedrelationship to the lid 21 to allow air to circulate freely between theboxes to reach the four compartments thereof. It will thus be seen thatthe handle 34 has the dual function of being employed for manuallycarrying box 20 and for co-acting with ribs 39 when a plurality of theboxes 20 are stacked for shipment.

Figures 8 to 12 illustrate a slightly modified form of the box,designated 20', wherein the body portion 43 is formed from a singleblank folded adjacent the four sides to form the upwardly extendinglongitudinal sides 44 and ends 45 said sides and ends being out along aline parallel to the end folds to form the portions 46 which are foldedinwardly to lie along the inner sidesof the ends of sides 44 and to besecured thereto by means of staples 26. The portions 46 are providedwith the relatively large openings 41 for a purpose which willhereinafter be explained.

The body portion 43 is provided with a longitudinal two ply'partition 48the ends of which are out along the lines 49, as seen in Figure 12, andscored along the lines 50 to form the tabs 5| at each end adapted to bebent outwardly in opposite directions, as seen in Figure 11, to restagainst the inner sides of the ends 43. Tabs 5| when bent outwardly asseen in Figure 11, form the tongues 52 which extend through the endwalls 45, as best seen in Figure 10 to retain the partition 48 thereinin an upright position with the bottom edge of the partition restingupon the bottom 53 of the box 20'. Body portion 43 .is also providedwith the handle 34 having the slot 35 adapted to project upwardlythrough the slot 42 in the lid 21 which corresponds to the lid of thebox 20, the depending sides of which are adapted to fit over sides 44and ends 45 as seen in Figures 8 to 10 to form the cover of the I box29', in the same manner as the lid 21- fits the body portion 22 of thebox 29. Box 29' differs from box 29 only in that the body portion isformed from .a single blank and the longitudinal partition 48 is formedfrom a separate blank which is removably positioned in the box by meansof the tongues 52. If desired, the tabs 5| may be secured to the ends 45by means of staples to permanently attach partition 46 in the bodyportion 43. The parts of the box 29' are also provided with-theperforated portions 32 in the same manner as the box 29 to beselectively punched out to form ventilating openings, and the openings41 heretofore referred to are adapted to aline with certain of saidcut-out portions 32, as best seen in Figure 8, so that when theseportions are punched out the ventilating openings 33 will include theopenings 41.

In Figures 13 to 17 another modified form of the invention is showncomprising a poultry box designated generally 20" the body portion 54 ofwhich may be formed similarly to the body portion 43, or in other words,from a single blank folded and cut to form the bottom 53, sides 55 andends 56, as heretofore described. Box 20" is provided with thelongitudinal partition 51 which as seen in Figure 16, is provided withthe enlarged end portions 58 which are cut horizontally along the lines59 and scored along the vertical lines 69 to form the tabs 6|. Partition51, as seen in Figure 14, islikewise double ply so that when the tabs 6|are bent outwardly of each other they form with the portions.62 a T-shaped element 63, as best seen in Figure 15, which projects upwardlyfrom the body 54, as seen in Figures 13 and 14. Tabs 6| by being bentoutwardly form the tongues 64 corresponding to the tongues 52 which areadapted to extend through slots 65 in the end walls 56 to removablyposition partition 51 therein with its lower end resting on the bottom53 and the lower parts of the tabs 6| may be stapled to ends 56, ifdesired, to rigidly and permanently position partition 51 therein.

Box- 29" is also provided with the two transverse partitions 66, as bestseen in Figure 17, provided with the tongues 61 at their ends to extendthrough slots 68 in the sides 55 and partition 51. Partitions 66 arealso provided with the enlarged upwardly extending portions 69 at theirouter ends which project upwardly from the body portion 54 and aresubstantially the same height as the element 63, as seen in Figure 14.Partition 51 is also provided with the handle 34, corresponding to thehandles in the boxes 29 and 20", the upper edge of which is disposed ina horizontal plane with the corresponding edges of the elements 63 and69.

The lid 10 of the box 29" is formed from a single blank scored along itssides and folded downwardly to form the top 1| and depending sides andends 12 which are out, lapped and stapled similarly to the blank formingthe body portion 43. Top 1| intermediate of its ends adjacent itsopposite sides is' provided with the transversely disposed slots 13, acentrally disposed longitudinal slot 14 and a pair of T-shaped slots 15at its opposite ends. Lid 19 fits the top of the body portion 54 in'thesame manner as the lid 21 with the-slots 13 positioned to receive theelements 69, slot 14 to receive the handle 34, and the slots 15 toreceive the element 63, these elements projecting upwardly from the lid10, as

best seen in Figures 13 and 14 to, retain the lid in position on the boxand to, allow it to be removed only by a direct upward movement. Ele--ments 63 and 69 and the handle 34 combine to form supporting members onwhich the bottom of a superposed box isadapted to be rested and held inspaced relationship to the lid III to form an air space therebetween sothat air may reach the compartments of the box 20" by passing throughventilating openings 33 in the top H i when the perforated portions 32have been punched out. The cover II is also provided with fourrelatively large partially perforated portions 16 adapted to be pressedinwardly to form large ventilating openings one of which willcommunicate with each of the tour compartments of the box, and the sidesand ends 55 and 56 as well as thepartitions Bland 66 are provided withperforated portions 32 adapted to be punched out to form ventilatingopenings 33 similarly to the boxes 20 and 20'. It will also benoted thatthe tongues 61 project beyond the sides 12 ofthe lid It so that thesetongues will hold adjacently stacked boxes away'irom the ends 55 to forman air space at the end of the box for admitting air to the fourcompartments.

porting large numbers poultry where a plu-g rality of the boxes will bestacked side .by side so that air spaces'may be maintained between theboxes to allow circulation of air for ventilat ing the compartments ofeach box.

While in every instance the central longitudinal partition has beendescribed as being 01! two ply thickness a single ply longitudinalpartition could be employed in which case the element 63' would beL-shaped, as seen in Figure 18, and

the top 'H' would then be provided at its ends with L-shaped slotsinstead of the T-shaped slots liasseeninFigure 15.

7 Figures 19 to 23 illustrate another modified form 01 the inventionemploying tongueand slot connections instead of the staples 2i and isadapted for use in assembling both the body, portions and lids of eitherof the boxes 20, 2| or 20" and as illustrated in Fisureszz and 23 the inFigure 20, to hold the tongue 8| from being accidentally retracted.

i i-Figures 22 and 23, end 81 of the box 20a, intermediate of its ends,is provided with the struck-out portion 85 forming the slot 84 toreceive the tongue 8| iormedon the end of a partition 86 to connect oneend of the partition to the box 20a. The opposite end of the-partition86 would be similarly connected in the opposite boxes are especiallyadapted for usein transtongue and slot .may likewise be employed forassembling the transverse and longitudinal partitions in these boxes. InFigures-19 and"20 one corner of a box designated 20a is shown having anend wall I8 provided with a folded end 18 to overlap an end of the sidewall 80. Side wall 80, contiguously with the lapped portion I9- iscutout to form the tongue 8| which hinges, intermediate of its upperedge. to the side 8| to tom the free ends 82 adapted to be folded alongthe scored lines 3 and to he passed through 'the opening or slot it inportion 19. Opening ll is width substantially the same as the distancebetween the scored lines It so that ends 82 oi, tongue ll may beextended, after the tongue has been it in position therein, and thestruck-out portion 05 maybepositionedinsaidopenlng,asseen formed by thestruck-out portion 85 and is of a I inserted through the opening or slotN to retain end of the box 20a and apartition, not'shown, disposed atright angles to the partition 86 would be similarly connected to both ofthe sides 80. This tongue and slot construction may likewise be employedfor connecting the two halves 22 of the body portion 20 and elsewherewhere the staples 26. have been illustrated so that the poultryboxes-may be formed from blanks without the use of staples or adhesives.

Various other modifications and changes in the construction andarrangement of the parts forming the poultry boxes may obviously be madeand are contemplated as the drawings and description are only intendedto illustrate preferred forms thereof, and the right is expresslyreserved to make such variations and changes as fall within the spiritand scope or the invention as hereinafter defined by the appendedclaims.

I claim as my inventions," 1. A chick box comprising a body portion andlid oi fibrous material, a longitudinal partition.

composed of two plies, disposed in the box and provided with upwardlyelongated endportions, portions or the ends of the piles beingturnedoutwardly for engagingthe inner sides of the ends of the bodyportion, the remaining parts of the ends'oi the plies forming tongueswhich extend through the ends of the body portion, adjacent its bottom,to detachably connect the partition thereto, said upwardly elongated endportions iorming'T-shaped extensions which project through the lid; apair of transverse partitions having tongues at their ends, the tonguesof the adjacent ends of the transverse partitions being connected to thelongitudinal partition and the tongues of the remote ends beingconnected to the sides or the body portion, said transverse partitionshaving upwardly projecting portions adjacent their remote ends whichextend through the lid, and means formed integral with the intermediateportion ,0! the longitudinal partition and extending upwardly throughthe lid to form a handle for carrying the box and to combine with theT-shaped extensions and projecting portions to support a superposed boxin spaced'apart relationship to the lid.

2. a chick box as in claim '1, certain of the tongues being providedwith end flaps ioldable to extend in the same direction, and said bodyportion being provided with U-shaped slots for the passage of thetongues therethrough, and

said flaps being returnable to their normal extended positionsrelatively to the tongues for re-- taining the tongues in engagementwith the slots.

3. A chick box as in claim 1, the side and end walls of the body portionbeing provided with releasable tongue and slot connections. said lastmentioned tongues being provided with end flaps foidable to extend inthe same direction, and said slots being U-shaped m.- the passage of thetongues therethrough, and said flaps being returnable to their normalextended positions relatively to the tongues for retaining the tonguesin engagement with the slots.

